Mistle Thrush

The Mistle Thrush, Missel Thrush or Stormcock is bigger and paler than a Song Thrush and has bolder spotting on its
breast and belly.

The upperparts of the Mistle Thrush are grey-brown. The breast and
flanks are a pale buff with bold black spots, which are scattered all over
the underparts. The wing feathers have pale
edges, which gives the appearance of a pale patch on the wing when seen
from a distance.

In flight, the Mistle Thrush usually flies at tree top height with several
wing beats separated by short glides. The underside of the wings is white

Juveniles are pale and heavily spotted on the upperparts.

Nest

Chicks

Juvenile

Mistle Thrush

Scientific Name

Turdus viscivorus

Length

27 cm (11")

Wing Span

42-48 cm (16-19")

Weight

110-140 g (4-5 oz)

Breeding Pairs

230000

Present

All Year

Status

Amber

Voice

The Mistle Thrush's alarm call is like a football rattle or machine gun.

Their dreamy song is loud and far reaching and often heard during stormy
weather, hence its alternative name of Stormcock.

Feeding

The Mistle Thrush's diet is the same as the Song Thrush's: insects, worms,
slugs but rarely snails, and berries, such as yew, rowan, hawthorn and holly.

In the winter, a Mistle Thrush will often vigorously defend a berry laden bush from
other thrushes.

Nesting

The bulky grass-lined nest of grass, roots, moss, leaves and earth is
built by the female, usually in the fork of a tree but also in shrubs and
walls.

The smooth, glossy pale blue eggs have reddish-brown spots, and are
approximately 31 mm by 22 mm. The female incubates the eggs by herself. After
the young hatch, they are fed by both parents.

Breeding Starts

Clutches

Eggs

Incubation (days)

Fledge (days)

February-May

2

3-6

12-15

16-20

Movements

The Mistle Thrush is resident with most birds being sedentary, but some do
migrate; for example, some Scottish birds winter in Ireland and others make it
to France. A few Scandinavian and northern European Mistle Thrushes winter in
the UK, especially down the east coast.

Juveniles disperse in July.

Conservation

The population of Mistle Thrushes has diminished since the mid-1970s,
especially in farmland areas, and so they appear on the Amber List,
though some surveys suggest this decline may have halted.